On the Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski discussed all things four verticals with XFL Houston coach A.J. Smith. Smith has coached quarterbacks at the college level, most recently at Jackson State (Miss.) under Hal Mumme.

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The first thing that was discussed was the spacing of the concept. To keep the correct spacing, Smith said the slots should run up the seams 2 yards outside the hashes. The outside receivers should be 2 to 3 yards from the sideline. This puts optimal horizontal stress on the secondary.

Progression

As for the progression, Smith says Coach Mumme teaches right-handed quarterbacks to read left to right and left-handed quarterbacks to read right to left. This allows them to get the necessary torque on throws later in the progression. 

Man beaters should be on the front side of the progression, whereas the zone beaters should be backside. When the quarterback looks backside, if he doesn’t get the ball out after his first hitch, he should be looking to check it down to the back. Coach Smith made the point that if No. 2 runs a bender or post vs. 2-high, he should make his decision at 13 to 15 yards to ensure that he is past the underneath defenders.

To practice going through progressions, quarterbacks go through a routes on-air session every day in practice where all five QBs are up at once. They all work their way through the progression and get the ball out at the correct time in the drop. Their eyes must move with their feet as they work from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5. The quarterbacks rotate after each throw so they are getting reps throwing each route.

Vs. Rip/Liz Match Cover 3

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Against Rip/Liz, Coach Smith likes running a switch tag on the backside of four verts because the defender over No. 2 that tries to match the seam won’t carry No. 2 vertical if he goes out first. The switch tag should always be to the boundary because it works better timing-wise when the quarterback gets to his third and fourth read. The point was also made that the switch tag keeps the slot clean against teams that want to rub No. 2 up the seam.

Vs. Cover 2

The difference between running four verts vs. 1-high and 2-high is the bender by the field No. 2 receiver. Not only do the quarterback and receiver need to read the coverage pre-snap, but they must be looking for safety rotation post-snap. If the defense ends up in 2-high, and especially in Cover 2 where the safeties are getting off the hashes to protect from hole shots, the bender should come open over the middle of the field. If the Mike drops deep enough to cover the bender, the ball should be checked down to the running back on the option/angle route.

Trips

Trips four verts is a different play from 2x2. The No. 3 receiver runs at the near safety or middle of the field safety to try to get No. 2 wide open up the seam. The read is more like a post/dig read than typical four verticals. The quarterback’s progression is read inside out. 

As far as the landmark for the No. 3 receiver, he goes under the Sam, over the Mike and then up the hash. Coach Mumme teaches the No. 3 receiver to essentially run “Y Cross”, under the Sam, over the Mike and get to 22 yards on the opposite hash. If it is Cover 2, the receiver can take the middle of the field.

Switch Tag Out of 3x1

When using a “switch” or “swap” tag out of 3x1, the No. 2 receiver crosses to the boundary hash, the No. 1 receiver runs up the field hash and the No. 3 receiver runs a wheel with the option to sit down at 10 yards if the corner is on top. With the strong safety keying No. 2 in solo, No. 1 will often come open up the field hash. If he is covered, the No. 3 receiver on the wheel should be open whether it’s due to a coverage bust or falling off his route at 10 yards.

Shallow Tag

The shallow tag was invented to counter defenses that start dropping their underneath defenders out to cover the vertical routes. It shouldn’t really be used as a base call, but more as a counter or constraint.

Running Back Checkdown

The running back goes opposite the bender by No. 2 and can run an option route or an angle route between the inside linebackers as they are expanding to cover the verticals.

In closing, the key takeaway from the podcast is coaches who are looking to install four verticals should be repping it constantly to make sure they become great at it. The concept can be excellent for creating the type of explosive plays down the field that are often the difference between winning and losing.

 

 

Podcast Review: AJ Smith talks all things about 4 Verticals